Writing a resume for U.S. employers in 2025 means more than listing your job history. Recruiters are skimming faster, applicant tracking systems (ATS) are filtering harder, and strong formatting matters just as much as strong experience.
If you're applying for jobs in the U.S. this year, here's how to write a resume that matches expectations and stands out for the right reasons.
1. Keep it to one page if you can
Most U.S. resumes should be one page unless you have more than ten years of relevant experience. Recruiters spend seconds scanning, not minutes reading. Focus on the most recent and relevant roles. Leave out older positions that don't connect to the job you're applying for.
2. Contact info goes at the top but keep it clean
List your full name, city and state (not your full address), phone number, email, and a link to your portfolio or personal site if relevant. Use a professional email. Avoid unnecessary info like marital status, or a birthdate
3. Write a short summary not an objective
Career objectives are mostly outdated. Instead, write 2–3 lines at the top summarizing who you are and what value you bring. This should match the role you're applying for and give a quick snapshot of your focus and strengths.
Example:
Marketing professional with 5 years of experience in content strategy, brand storytelling, and campaign analytics. Strong track record in leading cross-channel projects from concept to execution.
4. Tailor your experience for each application
Every resume you send should reflect the job you’re applying for. Use the exact language and keywords from the job posting wherever it fits your real experience. If a company wants someone skilled in “cross-functional collaboration,” and you’ve done that, use the same phrase. This helps you pass through automated systems.
5. Use reverse chronological order
Start with your most recent job and work backward. Include your title, company name, location, and dates. Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points describing what you accomplished. Use metrics when possible.
Bad:
- Responsible for managing social media
Better: - Grew social media following by 80% in 6 months through organic strategy and audience testing
6. Education still matters especially early in your career
List your highest level of completed education. If you're early in your career, include GPA (if it’s solid), relevant coursework, or honors. If you’ve been working for a while, just list the school, degree, and graduation year.
7. Add skills that match the role
Include a dedicated “Skills” section, ideally after your experience. Stick to hard skills including software, tools, languages, or technical knowledge. Soft skills like “teamwork” or “leadership” are better shown through your work experience, not listed outright.
8. Design for speed and readability
Avoid fancy fonts, colors, or columns that might break when uploaded to a job portal. Stick to a simple layout with clear headings, bullet points, and enough white space. Recruiters scan for clarity. You don’t need to impress with design you need to make it easy to read.
9. Save and send as PDF unless told otherwise
PDF keeps your formatting consistent. Only use Word or Google Docs format if the company asks for it specifically. File name should be something like FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf.
10. Link to a resume site or portfolio
Many job seekers now include a personal link alongside their PDF. A simple site where you showcase your work, resume, or contact details makes it easier for recruiters to learn more and remember you. This can be especially useful for roles in design, development, writing, or consulting. You can get a site for free on Hello.cv
Writing a resume for the U.S. job market doesn’t require tricks. You just focus, provide clarity, and relevance. Show the right experience, in the right format, and you’re already ahead of most.
If you're ready to turn that resume into something more shareable, your own CV site could be a smart next step. But the basics still matter. Get those right first.
